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Thursday, May 26, 2016

On Tuesday, May 17, NHS of New Haven hosted a graduation for our Spring 2016 Resident Leadership Program participants. We are so proud of all those who took part in the program and will become powerful leaders and advocates in their communities.

About the Resident Leadership Program:

In March 2010, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven launched its Building Leaders, Building Communities: Resident Leadership Program. The program was an essential element of the training and education component of our Neighborhood Revitalization Institute.

The primary goals of the program are to transfer concrete leadership skills to New Haven residents, create a space for participants to share their experiences with one another, and increase their sense of being agents of change.

One key to achieving these goals is to start with the fundamental belief that participants and the communities they represent are assets. Oftentimes leadership programs are built to fill in the “missing gaps” in emerging leaders rather than to hone the strengths they already possess or allow time to build confidence and skills. This program aims to change that paradigm.

Based on a curriculum developed in conjunction with our national partner, NeighborWorks®America, the program consisted of five units:

In October, 2016, six residents with accompany two members of the NHS of New Haven staff and board to the Community Leadership Institute offered by NeighborWorks® America in Columbus, Ohio. This four-day event is a gathering of more than 1600 neighborhood residents from 200+ organizations, at which participants learn, share, and celebrate struggles and success in community stabilization and revitalization.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF NEW HAVEN TO CELEBRATE NEIGHBORWORKS®WEEK 2016 WITH MULTIPLE EVENTS

The series of events and activities will culminate with a community garden clean-up, Barbecue, and launch of the Newhallville99 project.

NEW HAVEN, CT – On June 1, 2016, volunteers from Bike & Build will join Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven staff to beautify the Ivy Street Community Garden and Greenhouse, the Shelton Avenue Learning Corridor, and the Farmington CanalTrail. The Bike & Build volunteer event will kick off a celebration of neighborhood revitalization activities nationally recognized as NeighborWorks® Week.

During NeighborWorks® Week (officially June 4-12), NHS of New Haven and other NeighborWorks® organizations across the country will mobilize tens of thousands of residents, business people and government officials in a week of neighborhood change and awareness. NHS of New Haven will host and partner with a number of New Haven groups to offer a variety of activities. From workshops on money management to leading hikes during CT Trails Day to offering free garden workshops, NHS of New Haven plans to ensure that New Haven residents have opportunities to serve, thrive, discover, connect, and celebrate.

The series of events will culminate on Saturday, June 11 at a community garden located at 49 Bassett Street. NHS of New Haven staff, residents, and volunteers will clean and plant the garden. Afterward, there will be a community Barbecue, a walking tour of NHS homes led by NHS Executive Director Jim Paley, and the launch of the Newhallville99 project.

The Newhallville99 Project is designed to celebrate the rich and vibrant history of the Newhallville neighborhood, and to highlight recent initiatives and accomplishments within this community. Newhallville99 is a way for everyone (residents of Newhallville or not)to be motivated to engage with their communities, be proud of where they live, and look forward to a future of never ending possibilities.

“Each June, we are thrilled to be a part of NeighborWorks® Week,” remarked Jim Paley. “It’s a great opportunity for NHS of New Haven to highlight the work that we do with residents, volunteers, and community groups throughout the year. This year’s theme, Creating Opportunity, has allowed us to plan events and activities that invite the communityand other organizations to join us in volunteer opportunities, educational workshops, and group meetings – to learn how we can all collaborate to make a positive impact on communitiesin New Haven and throughout Connecticut.”

Complete List of NeighborWorks® ActivitiesFurther details can be found on NHS’ website: www.nhsofnewhaven.org

June 1, 2016: 8:30am-4:00pm

Bike & Build: Pedal for Affordable Housing

June 2, 2016: 5:15pm-8:15pm

Pre-Closing Education Workshop

June 4, 2016: 10:00am-12:30pm

CT Trails Day: West River Greenway #1

June 5, 2016: 10:00am-12:15pm

CT Trails Day: West River Greenway #2

June 6, 2016: 5:30pm-7:30pm

New Haven Energy Task Force Meeting

June 8, 2016: 9:15am-11:30am

West River Watershed Coalition Meeting

June 9, 2016: 5:00pm-8:00pm

Money Management Workshop

June 10, 2016: 4:00pm-6:00pm

West River Water Festival Launch Party

June 11, 2016: 10:00am-12:00pm

Seed Swap Garden Workshop

June 11, 2016: 9:00am-12:00pm

Community Garden Clean Up, BBQ, and Newhallville99!

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven works to revitalize selected neighborhoods in New Haven by increasing homeownership; making homes beautiful, energy-efficient, and affordable; and helping residents take charge of their neighborhoods. We believe that increased homeownership, educated homebuyers, and rehabilitated houses will produce stable, revitalized neighborhoods that our clients will be proud to call home. During the course of our 36-year history, NHS has fully renovated and sold nearly 450 units to low- and moderate-income families. www.nhsofnewhaven.org

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven is part of the national NeighborWorks® Network, an affiliation of more than 240 nonprofit organizations located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In 2015, the Network helped­­­­ nearly 356,000 individuals and families with affordable housing and counseling. The Network was founded and is supported by NeighborWorks® America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. www.nw.org

FIRST NIAGARA FOUNDATION AWARDS $20,000 TO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF NEW HAVEN AND NEW HAVEN HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER

NEW HAVEN, CT – First Niagara Foundation, the charitable non-profit entity of First Niagara Bank, has awarded a grant of $20,000 to Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven and the New Haven HomeOwnership Center. The funding from First Niagara will support NHS’ Comprehensive Neighborhood Stabilization and Revitalization Initiative and HOC’s Homebuyer Promotion and Preservation Program. These programs are poised to rehabilitate 12 houses, totaling at least 20 units for affordable homeownership in addition to providing homebuyer education, financial literacy training, and foreclosure prevention counseling.

“Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization is a focus of our philanthropic giving,” said Paul McCraven, Senior Vice President of Community Development for First Niagara. “We have long partnered with Neighborhood Housing Services and the HomeOwnership Center, and are proud to support their work in revitalizing New Haven neighborhoods and providing affordable homeownership options to many who would not otherwise have the ability to own their own homes.”

“This contribution from the First Niagara Foundation will play a significant role in helping us to strengthen our comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy and enhance our homebuyer promotion and preservation programs”, said James Paley, Executive Director of NHS. “First Niagara is demonstrating a wonderful commitment to improve the lives of low- to moderate-income families in New Haven and we are truly grateful for their continued support.”

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven and its subsidiary the New Haven HomeOwnership Center, works to revitalize selected neighborhoods in New Haven by increasing homeownership; making homes beautiful, energy-efficient, and affordable; and helping residents take charge of their neighborhoods. We believe that increased homeownership, educated homebuyers, and rehabilitated houses will produce stable, revitalized neighborhoods that our clients will be proud to call home. During the course of our 36-year history, NHS has fully renovated and sold more than 270 houses to low- and moderate-income families.

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 390 branches, $40 billion in assets, $30 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,300 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For additional information on First Niagara, visit www.firstniagara.com, follow them on Twitter @FirstNiagara, or like them on Facebook at FirstNiagaraBank.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Common Vision is a Home Remodeling company based in Hamden, CT. In 2008, they did some major work on 30 Hudson as a donation to NHS.

A few weeks ago, Common Vision approached NHS' Director of Design & Construction, Henry Dynia, about doing another volunteer project. Coincidentally, Henry had just been taking a look at the garage at 161 Ivy St., NHS' most recent acquisition.

The garage is a substantial masonry structure that has suffered from neglect and deterioration from the elements over many years, gradually becoming a purpose-less eyesore. But on the positive side, it seemed to be the perfect bite-sized project for the time and effort that Common Vision had available to offer.

Common Vision volunteers are replacing deteriorated wood portions to make the building safe to do additional work required to complete the project. Their contribution to NHS substantial and comes with a high level of professional expertise.

We are very grateful for their partnership with us in bringing a higher quality of life to the Newhallville neighborhood.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

NeighborWorks is committed to driving and sustaining positive change. In fiscal year 2015, the NeighborWorks network helped nearly 356,000 families find or stay in affordable housing, and they're sharing this great news through the launch of their newly updated NeighborWorks impact map.

Data highlights are available for all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, and each page includes a story or video that illustrates the human impact of their network.

Here is Connecticut's Impact Map: (Stay tuned for a map that includes NHS of New Haven's impact!)

Click on the map to read the impact story associated with Connecticut -- which just so happens to be about a homeowner who came through NHS of New Haven :)